If you are thinking about bankruptcy and haven't made a final decision about it yet, it's important that you know what is involved. If you are not a bankruptcy lawyer, you, more than likely, have not dealt much with bankruptcy law. Here are some quick tips to help you understand what you may go through.
Get a plan in place for after your bankruptcy is over. Your debt will be forgiven, but you have to find a way to make sure that your financial picture will recover. Set definite goals so that you are always working toward a financial future that will never get you in this position again.
Be extra vigilant about your spending habits until your hearing. Judges take a look at your entire financial picture. They even look at the things you are doing right now, to see if you are trying to take advantage of the system. Show that you are now on the right track financially.
Make sure you have a solid understanding of which debts can be eliminated by bankruptcy, and which ones cannot. Debts like student loans, child support or alimony payments, and taxes, are generally not discharged through bankruptcy. Bankruptcy can help if your wages are being garnished or if you have large unsecured debts, like, credit cards and utility bills.
Consider seeking advice in an online forum before you make any permanent decisions regarding personal bankruptcy. From there, you will see many people who long ago went through what you are now facing. It can give you a great perspective to help avoid making their same mistakes, and learning their lessons without first suffering those consequences.
Safeguard your most valuable asset--your home. There are many options available to help protect you from losing your home. Depending on whether the value of your home has decreased or if you have a second mortgage on the home, you may end up keeping it. Check to see if you pass the requirements necessary to file for a homestead exemption.
If you have financial issues due to something like a drinking, drug, or gambling problem, get help instead of immediately filing for bankruptcy. You will continue to have financial issues if you have serious problems with, spending lots of money on these items. Try getting into counseling as soon as you can, to better your situation.
When you are thinking about filing bankruptcy, always be honest about everything. Do not think that hiding assets or income will help your case for bankruptcy. It could turn out that the court may just dismiss your petition, and you will not be able to file again to have those debts listed.
Make sure that you fully understand the implications of declaring yourself bankrupt. Once you have filed for bankruptcy, you will find it difficult to secure any credit at all. While you may not see that consequence as a huge problem at the moment, if you wish to purchase a home in the future, or lease an automobile, you are probably going to need the credit.
Many people look at bankruptcy as an opportunity to get out of paying off their debts and a good way to start over. But, keep in mind that bankruptcy is a serious decision, and one that should be carefully considered. Bankruptcy will negatively impact your credit for seven to ten years, and even if you think you can get by without good credit, there are hidden uses for good credit you may not know about. Insurance companies, landlords and even prospective employers usually do a credit check before doing business with you!
Start getting used to paying for items with cash. Because bankruptcy will affect your ability to acquire credit for the foreseeable future, and credit you do obtain will have a high interest rate, pay for everything you can with cash or a check to prevent racking up new, much more expensive debt.
If you are planning to file for bankruptcy, you must seriously take into account anyone who has cosigned on a loan for you. For instance, if a friend or relative is a cosigner on your auto or home loan, they will be held financially responsible to pay the debt in the event you file for bankruptcy. This can create problems in relationships between family members and friends. That is why it is not advisable to cosign for anyone or ask someone to cosign for you, including your children. It could ruin someone's life.
A better understanding of what happens during bankruptcy is a good idea before you decide to file. By knowing what to expect, you can make a better decision about what choice is right for you. Hopefully, the tips laid out here can help you understand the process better, so that you know what to do.
Orignal From: Having Financial Issues? Have You Considered Bankruptcy?
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